Camilla Franks channels her inner Pachamama - MBFWA SS 13/14

Australians, we love us some colour. No kidding in the case of Camilla “kaftan queen” Franks. If the Great Barrier Reef suddenly rose from the depths of the Pacific Ocean, took on human form and headed out for dinner at Nautilus in Port Douglas, hands down it would be robed in her psychedelic resort wear, which has become a fave of Oprah, Beyoncé and Lily Allen, not to mention ram raiders. On Wednesday, Franks will unveil her “Pachamama” Spring/Summer 2013/2014 collection of womenswear, menswear, childrens wear and swimwear in Centennial Park, apparently the first fashion show to ever be staged inside the park, all part of its 125th birthday celebrations this year. The collection is named after the Pachamama goddess who is revered by indigenous tribes of the Andes and Franks has scored some rock royalty for opening honours - Georgia May Jagger, who will lead a pack of 30 models in a big budget production produced by Mark Vassallo. Justin Ridler recently shot a lookbook of the collection, which was inspired by Franks’ recent trip to South America. The setting for the shoot was Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens and the model, rising Kiwi modelling star Holly Rose Emery. Here is an exclusive preview.

Showcards: eMg Models (men) - MBFWA SS 13/14

mackenzie baker via emg models

There is really only a handful of shows that will either star or feature menswear at next month’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia (including Emma Mulholland, Vanishing Elephant, Zambesi, Han and Romance Was Born). But that hasn’t stopped Australian model agencies from putting a swag of their best new male recruits forward for castings over the next fortnight. Of note, eMg Models and its mens show pack, which includes some intriguing new faces.

The Chic hits the fan: IMG Models to open down under

What a can of worms frockwriter's post about the top Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia showgirls opened up earlier this month. Via a series of anonymous comments, the Sydney agency whose models dominated the event, Chic Management, was accused of the "malicious undercutting" of other agencies via its relentless "Chic exclusives" (16); of supplying underage models; and even "bringing down" the Australian fashion industry. Although Chic declined comment, the head booker at Priscillas Model Management, Lizzi Leighton-Clark, told us that Chic's offer of models for what she understood was "either contra or at an extremely low rate" was a "massive disservice to the industry". Meanwhile, reps for three designers who booked Chic exclusives - Akira Isogawa, Toni Maticevski and An One To Noone - told us they went with the agency because it offered top girls at an attractive price. While casting director Mark Vassallo said "only a small discount" was applied to his MBFWA showgirls and that show rate negotiation is commonplace around the world. Vassallo added the complaints smacked of sour grapes and suggested Chic's rivals should "get out of the office and start scouting for new talent instead". But Chic could be the least of their concerns because as it emerges, the world's biggest model agency is about to put up its shingle down under - apparently helmed by none other than Chic's gm.